We Compiled list of 25 Best albums of all time but based on Guitar Works, In Our Facebook Group we ran a poll and a total 1198 guitarist / users casted their Votes. So here are the list of 25 Best guitar albums of all time : )
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience / Are you experienced (1967)
The most influential rock guitar album of all time. Taking his wild electric blues, dazzling improvisational skills, and inventive use of every guitar technique known to man (and a few more besides) – Hendrix revolutionized electric guitar playing. Overnight Hendrix became the undisputed master of the instrument. “Whether you know it or not – if you play guitar you’re influenced by Hendrix. Everyone needs this record. HIGHLIGHT: Love Or Confusion
2. Led Zeppelin / Led Zeppelin II (1969)
Fresh from the blues-based outing of Led Zep I, Jimmy Page raced ahead of the pack for this second album, taking electric guitar playing beyond its roots forever. Songs like Whole Lotta Love and Heartbreaker (with its infamous solo) inspired the guitarists who would go on to create hard rock and metal. Revered today by his clones such as John Squire, Page remains one of the most widely imitated rock guitarists of all time. HIGHLIGHT: Heartbreaker
3. Van Halen / Van Halen I (1978)
The most influential post-Hendrix guitarist took a custom-made Strat, a Marshall 100 watt Super lead, an MXR Flanger, and turned rock guitar on its head. Ain’t Talkin Bout Love saw Eddie and David Lee Roth at their best; rude, raucous, and defiantly musical. And in the space of 1 minute 42 seconds, Eddie’s solo showcase Eruption turned two-handed tapping and legato into the guitar techniques of the next decade. Brilliant. HIGHLIGHT: I’m The One
4. AC/DC / Back In Black (1980)
Brothers Malcolm and Angus Young traded guitar lines of such lean and majestic beauty on their 7th album that even- Keith Richards (who despises all contemporary bands) was impressed. Back In Black was also the comeback album after the death (by vomit, naturally) of original frontman Bon Scott. It deservedly sold 12 million copies in the US alone and spawned countless imitations. Influential, to say the least.HIGHLIGHT: Back in Black
5. The Smiths / Hatful of hollow (1984)
Supposedly a rag-bag collection of John Peel sessions and B-sides, Hatful Of Hollow remains the Smiths’ most powerful musical statement. The artistry of Johnny Marr”s guitar playing is still unmatched; with tunings, capos, overdubs, and elaborate arpeggio licks, he comes up with breathtakingly unique and brilliant sounds. Three years later, the band was no more, but Marr’s influence remains huge. HIGHLIGHT: William It Was Really Nothing
6. Pink Floyd / Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
Dark Side sold 25 million copies and established Pink Floyd as the biggest rock act in the world. Even if you traveled to the yurts of nomadic Mongolian tribesmen, the long huts of New Guinea’s Mud Men, or the deepest darkest reaches of the Amazonian jungle, some bastard would whip it out at a party. Inescapable, but brilliant – it also contained some of Gilmour’s finest guitar work to date. HIGHLIGHT: Money
7. Stevie Ray Vaughan / Texas Flood (1983)
Exploding on to the scene with his contributions to Bowie’s Let’s Dance, Stevie Ray Vaughan gained wider recognition with “Texas Flood”. A volatile mix of Albert King and Jimi Hendrix, Stevie pulled electric blues screaming into the 80s’ with a unique passion and talent. As Buddy Guy said: “Stevie did for us what Muddy Waters did. He put the blues over, then he came back and got us.” HIGHLIGHT: Pride And Joy
8. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers / Blues Breakers (Feat Eric Clapton) (1966)
When Clapton made his seemingly backward jump from the pop success of The Yardbirds to the Bluesbreakers, people were more than a little surprised. As soon as they heard the opening screech of his guitar on All Your Love, however,.they were sold. Follow that up with the bliste1ing Hideaway, and you can see what all the fuss was about. By the end of 1966, walls were daubed with ‘Clapton is ‘God’. This record is why. HIGHLIGHT: All Your Love
9. Neil Young / Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969)
Everybody Knows … was Neil Young’s second foray into his solo career (ably backed by the legendary Crazy horse). His ramshackle guitar lines still prove that ‘technique’ isn’t everything – like the Cinnamon Girl solo (two notes throughout). Young is as accomplished (in his own inimitable way, of course) as he is esoteric on both acoustic and electric guitar. The Godfather of grunge? Oh yes, but so very, very, much more. HIGHLIGHT: Cinnamon Girl
10. The Velvet Underground / White Light, White Heat (1968)
There are some moments in rock history that are the stuff of legend. Like Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, John Cale, and Maureen Tucker working on the sessions for White Light, White Heat. Tucker’s metronomic drum rhythms were combined with some of rock’s most inspired sonic experimentation. This six-track LP, including the ear-bleeding Sister Ray, is now the bible for alternative guitar. Simple as that. HIGHLIGHT: I Heard Her Call My Name
11. The Rolling Stones / Exile on Main Street (1972)
Recorded at the peak of the Stones’ most creative period, Exile On Main Street is a mammoth album and ranks as one of the best rock ‘n’ roll creations of all time. Exile … is at first glance a rambling collection of tracks, and was initially met with critical disdain for just this reason. But Richards was never to have a greater foil for his rhythm playing than Mick Taylor, who is on top form throughout this LP. Seminal. HIGHLIGHT: Happy
12. The stooges / The Stooges (1969)
Fronted by James Jewel Osterberg (better known as Iggy Pop), the Stooges were a groundbreaking band from the start. Their 1969 debut combined the raw energy of US garage punk with a leaner and more abrasive guitar style, courtesy of guitarist Ron Asheton. It was the sound that spawned punk and remains much-imitated. The Stooges themselves self-destructed in a tidal wave of drugs and booze in 1974. HIGHLIGHT: I Wanna Be Your Dog
13. Thin Lizzy / Live and Dangerous (1978)
With the classic twin-guitar tag team of Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson, Phil Lynott Recorded the greatest ‘live album of all time. Culled from the band’s 1976-77 tours, this Album is packed with flawless solos (check out Dancing In The Moonlight), breathtaking harmony lines, and the charismatic Lynott trick of preaching his brilliant lyrics while tearing UP his bass like a tornado. 70s rock at its best. HIGHLIGHT: Don’t Believe A Word
14. Oasis / Definitely Maybe (1994)
Oasis’ monstrous debut LP is a killer. Huge riffs, fantastic tunes, great songs – the feedback at the start of tracks like Columbia and Bring It On Down shows just what a thrown-together affair Definitely Maybe was. Noel Gallagher blazed out the solos, while Liam howled out doggerel about helicopters and gin and tonic in the background. As a debut, it set the Gallaghers up as the best British band for the next three years. HIGHLIGHT: Supersonic
15. The Police / Regatta De Blanc (1979)
Before Sting became a pioneer of the rainforests, he played bass alongside drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers in The Police. Regatta de Blanc, their second LP, continued the promise of the first by fusing reggae rhythms with Summers’ sparse, Range, and delay-laden guitar. It also contains two of their best-known tracks, the mighty Message ln A Bottle and atmospheric Walking On The Moon. HIGHLIGHT: Message In A Bottle
16. Free / Fire and Water (1970)
Despite the fact that this album was largely successful on the back of All Right Now, the rest of the tracks are an altogether more laid-back collection. Paul Rodgers adds his velvet tones to a dry band mix which exposes evet)’ instrument. But it’s Paul Kossoff’s playing that makes this album a must-have. As well as an astonishingly mature tone (he was just 20 years old), he showed the musical restraint that typified the band. HIGHLIGHT: Fire And Water
17. Radiohead / The Bends (1994)
After Pablo Honey, their patchy and disappointing debut, The Bends was the album that really put Radiohead on the map. Their three-guitar attack of
Singer Yorke and guitarists O’Brien and Greenwood were honed to perfection, while lead player Greenwood produced some of the most exciting sounds to come out of a guitar for the last ten years. Truly inspirational. HIGHLIGHT: Just
18. The Byrds / Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)
After hearing George Harrison’s Rickenbacker 12-string on Ticket To Ride, Roger McGuinn Formed the Byrds “with guitarists Gene Clark and David Crosby in 1965. Their debut album, including their most famous song (the Dylan rack of the title), took Harrison’s isolated musical phrase and turned it into a classic pop statement.
HIGHLIGHT: I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better
19. Joe Satriani / Surfing With The Allien (1987)
Full-tilt boogie to ambient bliss, tongue-in-cheek psycho-western to dire metallic adagio, cerebral cool to visceral hot.” That’s how Satriani described his music.
Surfing … took instrumental rock guitar back into the charts and showed that melody and invention were as important as technical finesse. In so doing, he saved the genre from its worst indulgences and inspired a generation. HIGHLIGHT: Surfing with The Alien
20. Nirvana – Nevermind (1991)
Nirvana’s debut Bleach earned them the student audience, but it wasn’t until 1991’s Nevermind that the full extent of Cobain’s genius became apparent. The Pixies-pop of Smells Like Teen Spirit became the rock anthem of the ’90s, and
Cobain’s guitar playing put the final nail in the coffin of hard rock – inspiring a new generation of garage talent. HIGHLIGHT: In Bloom
21. U2 – War (1983)
Kicking off with the military-style drumming of Sunday Bloody Sunday, U2’s War is an awesome album. Edge’s playing snaps between furious riffing and gentle ambient acoustic phrases. Both lyrically and musically it was a turning point in contemporary music. The Edge remembers it as a .. knuckle-duster in the face of the new pop.” And it was. Emotional, draining, and superb.
HIGHLIGHT: New Year’s Day
22. Sonic Youth – Bad Moon Rising (1984)
(!!I BAD MOON RISING (1984)
Sonic Youth was always destined to be a force to be reckoned “with; Lee Renaldo and Thurston Moore’s discordant, chaotic guitar proved that energy and
passion were at the core of their creativity. Bad Moon Rising was insanely different to the prevalent synth nonsense around in ’84. and is pivotal in proving that a three-chord trick is not the only way to create a great song.
HIGHLIGHT: Death Valley ’69
23. Deep Purple – Machine Head (1972)
Ritchie Blackmore, rock’s original moody guitarist, is responsible for bringing classical harmony into rock. His arpeggios and melodies inspired a generation of neoclassical shredders, from Rhoads to Ylalmsteen. But this album is famous for Smoke 011 The Water. Who would have thought that this four-chord figure would become the most played phrase ever? Ritchie single-handedly broadened the electric guitar’s vocabulary by 100%. And as for his use of the whammy-bar. .. HIGHLIGHT: Highway Star
24. The Who – Who’s Next (1971)
Initially conceived as a follow-up to 1969’s rock opera, Tommy, Who’s Next sees Pete Townshend leading his cohorts into a frenzied classic-packed LP – from the epic opener Baba O’Riley to the acoustic, piano-led Gelling In Tune. Consolidating on their earlier success, this album remains much imitated. Witness Townshend at his peak, as both a songwriter and a guitarist.
HIGHLIGHT: Won’t Get Fooled Again
25. Santana – Abraxas (1984)
Although Carlos Santana has released over 25 albums since 1969, Abraxas, his second outing, remains his finest hour. His fusion of melodic guitar lines with ‘Afro-Latin’ polyrhythmic building was unique. As a guitar player, Carlos’ technique was marked by melodic judgment and a fluid sense of timing. The guitar sound (Les Paul through Fender Princeton) is still one of the most
identifiable in the history of the electric guitar. This remains an essential album for any rock or jazz musician. HIGHLIGHT: Black Magic Woman
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